So here we go with fortifying your position. Precautionary measures are always distinctly in your favor. So if surviving is your thing and so is holding-up in your locale, then this is the page for you. The US DOD used to publish pamphlets on how to build fallout shelters and the US Civil Defense (now FEMA) used to organize civilians to perform 95% of all relief effort activities. So what happened? We are as unprepared for any disaster as ever and very few can claim their home is their castle/keep. This page should help you with building/procuring a bunker like shelter. This page should help you ride out just about anything that could happen during the rise of the dead.

Option 1: The Purchased Bunker.

There are many companies out there willing to take your money and give you a large piece of cement, steel and various "necessary" components to ensure life goes on inside whilst it ceases outside. Look to the DIYs to further your security and thus chances of survival.

We will start this voyage of the bunker with Tornado Alley Storm Shelters Inc. The engineers of these cost effective shelters built them with tornadoes and hurricanes in mind. The "box"(walls, floors and ceiling) are constructed of of high PSI concrete and reinforced with fiber-mesh and re-bar. Shelters have 14ga lockable doors. There are above and below ground units available as well as safe rooms.

These particular units seem to be well suited to the short term natural disaster. No air filtration, no power units, no external water storage, no decontamination chamber and no radiation protection. The under ground units seem easy enough to disguise, lowering the living enemy potential. They are certainly not designed to withstand explosives of any kind and may buckle under repeated large calibre gun fire. But should hold the zeds at bay. The down fall of these prefab shelters is their small space. They are like under ground pup tents. You and your gear will make it a little less than comfortably, but the any extra occupants seem out of the question if you are in it for the long haul. I am sure they do custom orders to an extant though... Keep these guys in mind if you are looking to buy... on the cheaper side of things.


Next on the list of "Bunkers to See" is the Utah Shelter Systems Inc. These guys specialize in what they call "all hazard sheltering." They have multiple sized shelters, with multiple configurations. The idea behind the Utah Shelter Systems is that it can survive, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, riots, mobs, multiple forms of radiation, chemical and biological agents and keep it's contents safe from harm. They also have a qualification method that could help you determine the actual size and scope of shelter that you might need. Saving you in the pocketbook area. The smallest, un-customized and unfurnished shelter could run as little as $33,840.00 to the largest, slightly customized and furnished shelter could easily run over $75,000.00

These guys feel pro to me. They seem to have the best shelters and some of the best equipment. They tell you their prefab prices up front and there are no hidden costs. Everything is customizable and they are willing to work with the customer. They also seem to have an answer for all of th questions I could think of. I like their armored doors, the horizontal/hatch doors would afford the lowest detection value and seem very strong and well suited for their purpose.Worst thing about this system is that it is very expensive and You need a big enough place to bury it. If you are trying to ride out the zombalypse in style this should do you some justice.


Next stop on "The Grand Internet Bunker Tour," is Radius Engineering INTL. Bomb Shelters. Having one of the longest running businesses the Radius Co. has been building shelters since 1977. They offer a wide variety of shelters and configurations. As seen on the handy picture above, they offer a six man above ground "garage" unit, the GS6 all the way up (or shall I say, down) to the EarthCom 128 that has the ability to handle 800 people in extreme times of need. The sheer volume of customization is ridiculous. One of the unique points about Radius' shelters is the fact that they are completely made out of fiberglass. The Radius design completely relies on the ability of the soil to repel harmful radiation and it's strength to support the top side. The fiberglass does form a vapor barrier that eliminates the chemical/biological threat. As with 99% of all other shelters the entry point or door is seen as the biggest weakness and CAT15 and above have steel doors. The pricing on the underground shelters start at $51,600.00 for the SP6 on up to $2,049,360.00. The GS6, or above ground shelter, runs $26,680.00.

Radius has certainly been doing this for a good minute. In my opinion they have lost sight of the little guy and have chosen a horrible material to build their shelters with. As for the zeds... I think given enough time they would knock down the above ground model and it would prove as no deterrent to the living foe. I also do not like the doors/hatches on the F15 shelters and below. They have an armor rating of 0. Meaning that it is of the lowest grade and has the ability to resist (not repel) small bludgeoning weapons and tools. I am very displeased with what I saw, but I do have to say that some person of rich affluence some where, probably wearing stars on his collar and a portion of the nation's defense budget on his desk, was pleased with the design. Take my opinion and theirs with a grain of salt.

Option 2: DIYs

Okay Do It Yourselfers! This isn't like hanging shelves or painting walls. If you plan to build you own survival shelter in your place of residence and you are anything short of a cement mason or a engineer, you'll want to listen (look?) up and pay attention. We will go on the assumption that you are building a disaster shelter in your basement and plan to ride out what ever the apocalypse can throw at you. There are four major steps to turning your home into a fortress. Step one, Perimeter Security, Step Two Structural Security, Step Three Shelter Building and Maintenance, Step Four Extras.

Step One: Perimeter Security

There are a couple of ways to secure your perimeter. We are going to talk about walls and fences. There are A couple types of walls and fences you can use. The best is probably brick walls and cinder block walls are going to be the best in providing cover, concealment and deterrence. Wrought iron fencing and cyclone fencing will provide good deterrence factors but there is little in cover and concealment.


Cyclone Fencing or Chain link is used all over the world where people don't want you to go. It is easy to install and hard to take down. If installed correctly it will stop most POVs and proves hard enough to climb that it will deter the all but the most determined.Offers the best bang for your buck. In the USA you can readily find the material at a Home Depot, Lowes, Builder Supply and any other hardware/building materials store. You can do it your self or hire-out. Make sure it is six feet tall or higher, lest it will prove too easy for the living foe to climb. You will need to purchase supplies in amounts based on the size of your perimeter. Basic list is cement, cement mixer, fence poles/posts, fencing, brackets cross poles/posts, shovel or post hole digger and tightening straps. Remember you have to be able to get in and out before the end, so install a gate.

Here is a link to a Lowes page with directions on installing a chain link fence.
Additionall,y in this image, is the sign "UNSAFE AREA DO NOT ENTER". Although it is probably an empty, threat, hanging these sign up around your own perimiter will discourge casually interested people, and delibrately buring a building or two down will discourage even the more brazen- But not everyone.

Option 3: Classical Forts

There are many different fortresses, most of them now preserved as a historical site, that could serve as sufficent defence from zombie invasions. Castles, possibly with outer walls, and an inner structure, designed for siege by armed soldiers and siege weaponry should be able to hold out agaisnt poorly armed zombies fairly well. There are also, in addition to mideval castles in Europe and the Old World, there are other fortresses from the 18th or 19th centuries, Civil war era forts, or colonial forts from the initial colonization of the New World. Many of these may have fallen into disrepair, or kept in a state of destruction from a final siege, so it is imperitive to investigate the condition of such historical battlements prior to a decision to use them as shelter. The size of many of these forts is also a supporting factor, where they are capable of holding many surviors, allowing them to become command centers. Most of these classical forts are constructed of stone, and as such will not be prone to crumbling, and are built stable, so they will not topple easily either. Many also consist of deep trenches that may or may not need to be outfitted for dealing with zombie hordes, as well as passage ways with 'arrow-slits' allowing survivors to shoot out from the safety of the walls to incapacitate invaders. Any sturcture designed explicitly for defence is a good choice to consider when looking for a defensible position.